Dearest Reader,
Pardon my absence and relative tardiness, I have been exceedingly busy as of late.
So comparing the construction videos, here are the links to those who haven't watched them
Medieval Castle Construction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CboJzrDhoSk&feature=youtu.be
New NY Bridge Construction
http://www.newnybridge.com/three-years-in-two-minutes-new-video-captures-construction-progress/
Both of these videos are astoundingly cool to say the lease and represent very different construction methodologies and practices. The castle is being hand built using historically accurate practices, from treadmill cranes to hand chiseling the pieces. The castle is being built by a few dozen people in their spare time. Comparing that to the bridge construction, modern equipment is being used by thousands of full time workers, contractors, and subcontractors to produce the end product. The comparison is fascinating. Between the two construction projects 800 years of advancement can be seen.
The skills required for each project are quite divergent and difficult to compare. In the castle you have stone masons doing work that is thousands of years old dating back to the beginning of civilization. Comparing that to the bridge with modern construction practices and equipment, as someone with a romantic love of history, there just seems to be more skill and art in the craft of the mason as employed in the castle. This is by no means a slight to the iron worker or crane operator, but the hands of nature of masonry, each stone being individually crafted by hand one hammer blow at a time, has such a romance and connection to it. As well the fact that they're doing work that has been done for millennia, that connection to the past to me is highly intriguing. Each cut stone or hewn timber has an intimacy with its craftsman. A human hand has handled and shaped each piece, leaving with it the signs of its maker that will last for many thousands of years. The bridge will last maybe a hundred years or more, the castle will easily last hundreds or thousands.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
It's hard to take measurements in Gloves
Greetings again Dearest Reader,
Now for a Como Update. Monday I made a trip down to South Park to take measurements and do some engineering staring. My measurement taking was good and my staring was revealing. As well the temperature was cold and windy as could be expected. After looking at the interior of the turntable side frames I could see where the pivot previously mounted and how we're going to mount the new pivot. Below are annotated pictures. I did a walk around of the table looking at the sheets of the table side frames. Despite their age, 130+ years, they are in remarkably good shape on the surface. Their appears to be no significant surface corrosion or pitting.
Inside the roundhouse I took measurements of the pivot and examined how the rocking plate and the bearing engage each other and how the bridge mounts to the rocking plate. Pictures will explain it better than I can. The top of the bearing has an arch which mates with a corresponding negative arch on the rocker plate. There is about 1.5 inch lip around the top of the rocker plate which I'm assuming is where the turntable mounts to it. I will be making a trip to Durango within the next month to see how their table is set up since this is a D&RGW turntable bearing and Durango has its original Grande turntable.
Here's the bridge itself.
Here's the pit and roundhouse
The bearing. I didn't get a good picture but in the top half of the bearing there is a hole that is threaded towards the bottom. I believe this is for a pin to keep the rocking plate from moving too much.
Here's the rocking plate, It is a solid casting so its rather heavy.
This is the interior side frame at the center of the table where it mounts to the bearing. You can see where the material was torched off. I believe that is where the mounting bracket attached to the side frame.
Here's the Depot, its adorable
Many thanks to Jeff Ramsey for helping me take measurements! That's all for now folks, stay tuned for more updates.
Leighton
Now for a Como Update. Monday I made a trip down to South Park to take measurements and do some engineering staring. My measurement taking was good and my staring was revealing. As well the temperature was cold and windy as could be expected. After looking at the interior of the turntable side frames I could see where the pivot previously mounted and how we're going to mount the new pivot. Below are annotated pictures. I did a walk around of the table looking at the sheets of the table side frames. Despite their age, 130+ years, they are in remarkably good shape on the surface. Their appears to be no significant surface corrosion or pitting.
Inside the roundhouse I took measurements of the pivot and examined how the rocking plate and the bearing engage each other and how the bridge mounts to the rocking plate. Pictures will explain it better than I can. The top of the bearing has an arch which mates with a corresponding negative arch on the rocker plate. There is about 1.5 inch lip around the top of the rocker plate which I'm assuming is where the turntable mounts to it. I will be making a trip to Durango within the next month to see how their table is set up since this is a D&RGW turntable bearing and Durango has its original Grande turntable.
Here's the bridge itself.
Here's the pit and roundhouse
The bearing. I didn't get a good picture but in the top half of the bearing there is a hole that is threaded towards the bottom. I believe this is for a pin to keep the rocking plate from moving too much.
Here's the rocking plate, It is a solid casting so its rather heavy.
This is the interior side frame at the center of the table where it mounts to the bearing. You can see where the material was torched off. I believe that is where the mounting bracket attached to the side frame.
Here's the Depot, its adorable
Many thanks to Jeff Ramsey for helping me take measurements! That's all for now folks, stay tuned for more updates.
Leighton
Construction Site Visit
Greetings again Dearest Reader,
Don't worry, there will be another Como update soon.
While sojourning to the Minneapolis for an ASCE conference me and various other people in this class made the rounds around downtown to observe the various construction sites in the area. The site we focused on was the reconstruction of a road from a more traditional road to an open mall, much like 16th St. Mall in Denver. The old road surface had been scraped off and the ground prepared for new concrete. The project was a good one to look at because over the course of several blocks you could see the development of the project. As you went down the street you could see the project in varying stages of progress going towards completion.
In terms of equipment there were various excavators and rollers on site. As well there was an office trailer.
It's interesting to see cities reinvesting in their downtown areas. For much of the post-war era the trend in community development has been to expand and focus the suburban areas. However in recent years the trend has been to refocus on urban city close areas. Downtown Minneapolis is a good example of this. Well I think that's enough about Minnesota so bye now!
Don't worry, there will be another Como update soon.
While sojourning to the Minneapolis for an ASCE conference me and various other people in this class made the rounds around downtown to observe the various construction sites in the area. The site we focused on was the reconstruction of a road from a more traditional road to an open mall, much like 16th St. Mall in Denver. The old road surface had been scraped off and the ground prepared for new concrete. The project was a good one to look at because over the course of several blocks you could see the development of the project. As you went down the street you could see the project in varying stages of progress going towards completion.
In terms of equipment there were various excavators and rollers on site. As well there was an office trailer.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
thoughts on revit
Greetings Again Dearest Reader,
I come to you today in a state of sickness not health. Soon I shall be returning to my quarters for more dayquil and sleep to return by body to a state of good repair.
However before I can return to healing I must comment on my revit experiences, and if you may pardon the pun, I found it reviting. After a few hours of working in it it's starting to feel more intuitive. I can definitely see the value in this program and I expect to see it more in the future. I think being able to fully build the structure in the computer has immense value and that this program will only become more valuable. I wish that we had a class that was just learning how to use the major civil computer programs like revit and autocad.
I come to you today in a state of sickness not health. Soon I shall be returning to my quarters for more dayquil and sleep to return by body to a state of good repair.
However before I can return to healing I must comment on my revit experiences, and if you may pardon the pun, I found it reviting. After a few hours of working in it it's starting to feel more intuitive. I can definitely see the value in this program and I expect to see it more in the future. I think being able to fully build the structure in the computer has immense value and that this program will only become more valuable. I wish that we had a class that was just learning how to use the major civil computer programs like revit and autocad.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Live Blogging Continued
Hello Again Dearest Reader,
I'm having to switch to a new post because the old one had gotten too long for the program to be happy.
CDOT speaker continued
I70 expansion,
Construction begins early 2018 for the i25 to chambers trenching
Westbound express lane in the mountains begins soon
Eventually express lanes between FoCo and Denver, starting at each end and working towards the middle
He wants to expand the highways as needed and if the state and the taxpayers pony's up the cash then he'll build as much as he can
It's our responsibility to turn over a system to our kids that's better than we found it
1:20
James Ecklund
Colorado Water and why you should care
Water is light years ahead and behind of transportation
How we're ahead
- Headwaters state
- regional round tables put together basic implementation plans
I'm having to switch to a new post because the old one had gotten too long for the program to be happy.
CDOT speaker continued
I70 expansion,
Construction begins early 2018 for the i25 to chambers trenching
Westbound express lane in the mountains begins soon
Eventually express lanes between FoCo and Denver, starting at each end and working towards the middle
He wants to expand the highways as needed and if the state and the taxpayers pony's up the cash then he'll build as much as he can
It's our responsibility to turn over a system to our kids that's better than we found it
1:20
James Ecklund
Colorado Water and why you should care
Water is light years ahead and behind of transportation
How we're ahead
- Headwaters state
- regional round tables put together basic implementation plans
Live blogging annual CCA Conference
Good Morning Dearest Reader,
Welcome to my live blogging of the 84th Annual CCA Conference in Westminster
Key note speaker
8:35
Changing trends in OSHA. OSHA has been transitioning from action specific to programmatic regulation. Their goal is to interpret the code to get your money. The official company program has to be safety oriented, there need to be official fully documented company trainings with all the bases covered. All your training needs to be fully recorded, stuck to a fixed schedule, sign in sheets, and no ambiguity. Safety is about overall company policy.
Run from all liability
8:50
Republican presidents when they come into office they reduce funding for OSHA without shrinking the department. As a result citations increase to feed the machine and offset lost revenue.
Your safety committees need to actually work. Treat your people good and they'll comply with safety rules. Buy your workers pizza, let them know they're appreciated. Care about your workers and they'll do what you want. Involve everyone and keep everyone engaged and active. If everybody is enfranchised and actively care about what they do, safety will follow
9:15
PDAC
Plan
Decide
Act
Check
In all you do, do these things. Listen, Learn, and Lead. Convince your workers that you actually do care about them.
Effectively, in my own words, read a Dale Carnegie book
12:30
Speaker of the Colorado House. The population is growing and the state transportation infrastructure needs to grow to catch up. Gas taxes have not been updated since 1991 and as such funding has fallen and the infrastructure has suffered. I can't see her hands, not the best body language. Comprehensive plan needs to be developed to address colorado's transportation needs.
12:45
President of the Colorado Senate. The CCA is an important infrastructure advocacy group in the state.
How do we show good faith towards the taxpayer? How can we best prioritize funds for projects and programs to suit the needs of Colorado? We want to change housing and construction statutes so that more condos and multi-family dwellings can be built. This would allow for entry level housing to be built in the metro area to ease burdens on the rental market.
12:55
The Senate President was very short (Verbally not Physically). The Director of CDOT. The purpose of CDOT, to save lives and make lives better by proving freedom, connection, and experience through travel.
A 10% decrease in traffic congestion results in a 1% increase in economic productivity.
Almost 9 Billion dollars in unfunded highway projects.
2.5 billion in high priority projects
SB 228, senate bill allocating funds, less than 200 million allocated
72% of funding for transportation comes from federal government
Per capita transportation expenditures have decreased by half since 1991.
8i7
Welcome to my live blogging of the 84th Annual CCA Conference in Westminster
Key note speaker
8:35
Changing trends in OSHA. OSHA has been transitioning from action specific to programmatic regulation. Their goal is to interpret the code to get your money. The official company program has to be safety oriented, there need to be official fully documented company trainings with all the bases covered. All your training needs to be fully recorded, stuck to a fixed schedule, sign in sheets, and no ambiguity. Safety is about overall company policy.
Run from all liability
8:50
Republican presidents when they come into office they reduce funding for OSHA without shrinking the department. As a result citations increase to feed the machine and offset lost revenue.
Your safety committees need to actually work. Treat your people good and they'll comply with safety rules. Buy your workers pizza, let them know they're appreciated. Care about your workers and they'll do what you want. Involve everyone and keep everyone engaged and active. If everybody is enfranchised and actively care about what they do, safety will follow
9:15
PDAC
Plan
Decide
Act
Check
In all you do, do these things. Listen, Learn, and Lead. Convince your workers that you actually do care about them.
Effectively, in my own words, read a Dale Carnegie book
12:30
Speaker of the Colorado House. The population is growing and the state transportation infrastructure needs to grow to catch up. Gas taxes have not been updated since 1991 and as such funding has fallen and the infrastructure has suffered. I can't see her hands, not the best body language. Comprehensive plan needs to be developed to address colorado's transportation needs.
12:45
President of the Colorado Senate. The CCA is an important infrastructure advocacy group in the state.
How do we show good faith towards the taxpayer? How can we best prioritize funds for projects and programs to suit the needs of Colorado? We want to change housing and construction statutes so that more condos and multi-family dwellings can be built. This would allow for entry level housing to be built in the metro area to ease burdens on the rental market.
12:55
The Senate President was very short (Verbally not Physically). The Director of CDOT. The purpose of CDOT, to save lives and make lives better by proving freedom, connection, and experience through travel.
A 10% decrease in traffic congestion results in a 1% increase in economic productivity.
Almost 9 Billion dollars in unfunded highway projects.
2.5 billion in high priority projects
SB 228, senate bill allocating funds, less than 200 million allocated
72% of funding for transportation comes from federal government
Per capita transportation expenditures have decreased by half since 1991.
8i7
Monday, January 23, 2017
3-900 compulsory blog post
Hello Again Dearest Reader,
Due to unfortunate illness I was unable to be in class last Wednesday so I have yet to do the network by hand however here is my poor attempt at doing on in project
I am by no means proficient in Microsoft Project at this time however I hope this improves. I would say this network is reasonably sensitive. There's more than one prescribed course path to get a degree but its still pretty restricted.
As to the addition of corequisites, I would say that I would first try to become more proficient in project so I can utilize the tools available to me.
Hand made v. Computer Generated Schedule, I prefer hand made at this point. I'm not familiar enough to be comfortable using scheduling programs yet. My preferred technique for project scheduling is getting the relevant people around a table and using a white board to get everybody on the same page and figure out when stuff needs to be done.
My biggest takeaways from today's readings really were understanding prerequisites in scheduling. Construction management honestly seems like glorified cat herding with various disparate contractors and subcontractors making sure that at no time the cart is put before the horse.
I think the litigious nature of construction is somewhat of an annoyance that will continue into the future. As costs, particularly labor and insurance, continue to rise delays will become costlier and as such people will have even more impetus for pursuing compensation through legal action
Due to unfortunate illness I was unable to be in class last Wednesday so I have yet to do the network by hand however here is my poor attempt at doing on in project
I am by no means proficient in Microsoft Project at this time however I hope this improves. I would say this network is reasonably sensitive. There's more than one prescribed course path to get a degree but its still pretty restricted.
As to the addition of corequisites, I would say that I would first try to become more proficient in project so I can utilize the tools available to me.
Hand made v. Computer Generated Schedule, I prefer hand made at this point. I'm not familiar enough to be comfortable using scheduling programs yet. My preferred technique for project scheduling is getting the relevant people around a table and using a white board to get everybody on the same page and figure out when stuff needs to be done.
My biggest takeaways from today's readings really were understanding prerequisites in scheduling. Construction management honestly seems like glorified cat herding with various disparate contractors and subcontractors making sure that at no time the cart is put before the horse.
I think the litigious nature of construction is somewhat of an annoyance that will continue into the future. As costs, particularly labor and insurance, continue to rise delays will become costlier and as such people will have even more impetus for pursuing compensation through legal action
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